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Robin Hood Tax: PDA Tucson urges Barber to find his progressive side
September 19, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
Each month, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) members across the country visit their Congressional representatives and urge them to back progressive legislation. PDA Tucson visited Congressman Ron Barber's office today– the third time since he was elected.
One of the most important steps that Barber could take to help Arizona's economy and the country's would be to co-sponsor the so-called "Robin Hood Tax", which has now been introduced into the Congress as the Inclusive Prosperity Act (HR 6411) by Congressman Keith Ellison, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus (pictured above with Karen Higgins, vice president of National Nurses United). The Robin Hood Tax is a financial transaction tax on Wall Street.
From National Nurses United:
New York – The U.S. Robin Hood Tax Campaign today applauded the introduction in Congress of a bill that would impose a tax on Wall Street speculation. Introduced by Rep. Keith Ellison, HR 6411, the Inclusive Prosperity Act, would raise up to $350 billion in annual revenues that would be used to breathe new life into Main Street communities across America, as well as international health, sustainable prosperity and environmental programs.
The legislation embodies the Robin Hood Tax, a 0.5% tax on the trading of stocks, 50 cents on every $100 of trades, and lesser rates on trading in bonds, derivatives and currencies. It marks the return of a sales tax on financial transactions in place from 1914 to 1966 and targets the high-risk, high-speed trading that dominates the markets.
The letter PDA Tucson delivered to Barber today is after the jump. If you think Barber should co-sponsor the Robin Hood Tax, contact him by following this link.
Romney does not know the meaning of ‘redistribution’
September 19, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." – Inigo Montoya, in The Princess Bride (1987) So Willard "Mittens" Romney is going to try to distract voters from his characterization of half of them as lazy moochers who are dependent on government entitlement programs … Read more
The death of Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever presents a rare election issue
September 19, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
By now you are all aware that Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever was killed in a single vehicle accident while on a hunting trip in Coconino County near Williams. Dever's mother passed away on Friday. Her funeral is scheduled for this weekend. Cochise County Sheriff Dever dies in car crash.
First of all, my condolences to Mrs. Dever and the Dever family, and to the Cochise County Sheriff's deputies and support staff for your loss.
The death of Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever presents a rare election issue. Dever was running unopposed for reelection, now there are no candidates for County Sheriff. What happens now?
First, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone who is also a Republican to fill the remainder of Sheriff Dever's current term. A.R.S. §16-230(A)(2), in relevant part:
2. If a county office becomes vacant, the board of supervisors shall appoint a person of the same political party as the person vacating the office to fill the portion of the term until the next regular general election.
Because Sheriff Dever's death occurred between the primary election and the general election, A.R.S. §16-343 applies. Typically the vacancy would be filled by the party county committee nominating a candidate of the party's choice and filing a nomination paper and affidavit complying with the requirements of section 16-311 to fill such vacancy. A.R.S. §16-343(A)(3).
The problem, however, is that the ballots have already gone to the printer this week, according to sources with whom I spoke this morning. A.R.S. §16-343(B) provides that the party county committee nomination paper and affidavit are "to be filed at any time before the official ballots are printed." It's too late.
The Fast and Furious report
September 19, 2012
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by David Safier The Star's Tim Steller is definitely the man in Tucson when it comes to the ins and outs of the Operation Fast and Furious investigation, and he'll no doubt write about the just-released report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General in depth. Meanwhile, Media Matters, which has spent … Read more
Romney: Starvation, homelessness and untreated illness are American values
September 19, 2012
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by David Safier In what I've read and heard analyzing Romney's 47% remarks, there's one point I haven't seen emphasized nearly enough: the actual items Romney says disparagingly some people think they're entitled to: "to health care, to food, to housing." By choosing those categories, Romney demonstrates his complete disdain for people who are "beneath … Read more
Dick Durbin Sums it Up
September 19, 2012
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Posted by Bob Lord This quote from Dick Durbin pretty much tells you all you need to know about Mitt Romney: "He judged 47 percent of the American people based on their income tax returns," Durbin said. "We should judge Mitt Romney based on his income tax returns — or his refusal to disclose them." … Read more
Priorities USA Action ad: ‘Doors’
September 19, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA Action is up with an ad that focuses on the Romney fundraiser video in which he discloses his utter contempt for "47%" of Americans.
Basic message is "Romney can’t be trusted to defend the interests of the middle class."
Video below the fold.
Dissecting Mitt’s Intellectually Dishonest Tax Policy
September 18, 2012
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Posted by Bob Lord
This post gets a bit geeky, but hopefully makes a worthwhile point.
In an effort to prop up his his crazy tax proposals without having to explain the details, Mitt now is pointing to "studies" that supposedly support his claim that he won't have to raise taxes on the middle class. You can read the details here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/romney-tax-policy_n_1884527.html
Inferentially, it seems ole Mitt is relying on the age old conservative theory that reducing tax rates actually causes revenue to increase. The idea is that everyone is so deleriously happy with their reduced tax rates that they work harder and longer, such that the increase in the size of the economy more than offsets the reduced rates. It goes back to a concept coined by Arthur Laffer, known as the "Laffer Curve," which was the theoretical underpinning for the 1981 Reagan tax cuts.
